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Surf report: best new accessories for iPad Mini

The iPad Mini is everything you loved about its larger predecessors but in a more compact package. It might have a diminutive footprint, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't outfit the Mini with shiny new

Surf report: best new accessories for iPad Mini

The i-FlashDrive HD works with desktop and iOS devices to transfer files. Users can add or delete files on the flashdrive from an app. The app can also backup files and contacts from the flash drive to Dropbox. The i-FlashDrive HD starts at $99 for a 8 GB flash drive.(Photo: Alice Truong for USA TODAY)

The iPad Mini is everything you loved about its larger predecessors but in a more compact package. It might have a diminutive footprint, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't outfit the Mini with shiny new accessories highlighted in this week's Surf Report.

A flash drive for your iPad

As we're caught up in the cloud craze, let's not forget that physical media still has its value. Transferring files is quick and direct, and there aren't concerns about hackers or server failures.

Due to a lack of USB ports, smartphones and tablets have primarily relied on wireless storage solutions. But the i-FlashDrive HD (beginning $99 for 8 GB) works across desktops and iOS devices (both 30-pin and Lightning) to directly transfer files. Using it on a computer is straightforward (insert, drag files, eject), but on iPhones and iPads, it requires downloading an app to manage and transfer files between Apple device and flash drive. If you have a lot of photos you want off your iPad, this is certainly an easier option than emailing everything to yourself.

From the app, you can directly access, move, delete and copy files stored on the drive. The iPad's larger screen makes it possible to take work documents, such as spreadsheets and PDFs, or stream digital media, such as music and videos, on the go. In addition to organizing files, you can write plain text documents and voice recordings directly to i-FlashDrive. If you grant it access, the app can also backup contacts and copy files from Dropbox. While the app is easy to use, I'd like to see integration of Apple gestures, so it's possible to swipe through photos, for example.

For those who think the sky is falling, the i-FlashDrive HD is a great alternative to bring over files to and from their iPads.

The Elemental case for the iPad Mini starts at $80.(Photo: Alice Truong for USA TODAY)

Protection from the elements

Ready to protect your Mini from extinction is DODOCase, an accessory maker known for its handcrafted book bound cases.

As part of its spring and summer collection, it unveiled a new line that weaves in elements of nature in its design, including a debossed Hellenic symbol for water, air, earth or fire, depending on the model. Plenty of care and attention to detail went into the Elemental case for the iPad Mini ($80), from the creation of the screen printed interior pattern to the use of custom fabrics.

The lightweight case includes a bamboo tray that's contoured to the tablet's shape, ports and buttons. It holds the Mini snugly but at the same time is easy to remove without any latches. With smart cover functionality, the case activates the iPad's screen when it is opened and closed. When flipped around, Elemental can prop up the iPad at two angles for reading and typing, and a snag on the elastic strap that holds the cover in place keeps the iPad from slipping when standing.

A fantastic combination between protection and style, this Moleskine-like case will certainly appeal to bookworms. Each case is made to order in San Francisco, so you can rest assured that your iPad's protection is as special as the precious cargo it holds.

There's certainly no shortage of accessories for today's wide range of tablet computers. Here are a few items that caught the eye of USA TODAY contributors this year. Here,Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Cover ($80) for the iPad Mini matches the style of the Mini but provides a more tactile typing experience. The super thin cover protects the Mini too.(Photo: Alice Truong for USA TODAY)

Turn the Mini into a netbook

I know plenty of people who decided to forego a laptop in favor of an iPad. The first thing you need when doing so is a reliable keyboard. Admittedly, the larger iPad size is more conducive to long working sessions, but the Mini can also get the job done with the aid of Logitech.

The company's Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad Mini ($80) is an incredibly slick accessory that matches the style of the Mini while providing a tactile typing experience. To compensate for the limited typing real estate, the keyboard layout is different in a few ways. Some letters share keys with functions. For example, Q and tab are the same top left key, and A, right below, shares a space with caps lock. To use the latter functions, you hold down the fn key at the bottom left while typing. The other difference is that some punctuation keys, such as brackets and quotation marks, are narrower than letter keys. It won't feel natural when you're getting started, but it's easy to adapt, and it's certainly better than touch typing.

This keyboard also has smart cover functionality. But one unique characteristic is that when closed, the two parts make up a single unit that resembles an iNetbook — if Apple ever made one.

The duo behind the brand's unique line of 2D bags hail from Taiwan, working together to design bags with imagination. I first encountered JumpFromPaper while on holiday in Asia. When ThinkGeek became a distributor in the spring, I knew I had to try it. Wherever I went, this bag caught the attention of onlookers, some of whom would stop me to ask where it was from.

Eye catching it may be, this bag is, unsurprisingly, deficient in space. Though there are a few compartments as well as a zipper that expands the bag to three inches of depth, this is still very flat, so what it can carry is limited. Still, I found the Cheese model ($100) to be perfectly sized to hold an iPad Mini and other small items. This certainly won't do as a book bag, but when all you want is your iPad Mini adorned with any of the above accessories, this bag is just right.

The MOS starts at $40.(Photo: Alice Truong for USA TODAY)

Keep wires organized with MOS

Now that you've got a Lightning Apple gadget, you have yet another cable cluttering your desk.

MOS, short for Magnetic Organization System, is the brainchild of Andrew Adams and Greg Petersen. What started out as a simple idea to organize wires became another crowdfunding success story met with unexpected enthusiasm.

The elegant desk organizer comes in three varieties: a high-end version machined from a solid block of aluminum to match your iDevices and two plastic models in black or white. BiteMyApple.co, which carries successful Kickstarter products for Apple devices, sells the aluminum MOS for $40 and the plastic ones for $24 a piece.

MOS can be placed on a desk or mounted to a wall with a piece of double-sided adhesive, which is included. The magnetic pull is strong enough to hold on to cables so they don't slip off but not so much that removing them is met with too much resistance. While the ends of most wires secure without an issue, MOS also comes with three magnetic rubber ties for those cords that don't latch on.